Dee Dee and Peter McKay

Dee Dee and Peter McKay of Charlotte still have the shovel from the 1981 groundbreaking for the construction of the Lineberger Cancer Center building.

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For these founding Board of Visitors members, their planned gift to UNC Lineberger is personal. Dee Dee explains, “For me, this gift is about my family and my health. I am a Lineberger family member and I have had cancer three times.” Peter concurs, “It’s a family gift based on our interest and involvement.” Dee Dee is the oldest child of the late Archibald C. Lineberger, eldest of the four Lineberger brothers.

What sustains their interest? “The explosion of growth, especially involving multiple disciplines in treating cancer patients,“ explains Peter, a retired physician. Dee Dee says, “I have sent many friends to UNC Lineberger and everyone has come back saying it’s a wonderful, unbelievably good system. So many very capable doctors were so kind and passionate, and everyone they met was most hospitable and caring.”

Dee Dee says, “Every time we come to a Board meeting we learn something. We continue to be so proud of UNC Lineberger and all it is accomplishing.” Both have served on the Development Committee, and Dee Dee has served on the Nomination and Executive Committees and as Chair of the Board of Visitors. She received the Outstanding Service Award in 2011.

Peter cites just one example of service and excellence: “The breast cancer research being done at UNC, especially that of Dr. Lisa Carey and others who are working in multiple NC counties, is innovative and urgently needed for our state. While they are involved in national and international trials, their work for North Carolina is so impressive. UNC Lineberger is a North Carolina institution supported in part by the state of North Carolina, so it should produce for the state and it does.”

Dee Dee adds, “It’s their work on behalf of so many people that attracts interest and support. Anyone whose family member has gone through cancer and knows about UNC Lineberger’s quality of medical care and the scholarship of the researchers wants to help. It’s the personal experience that guides their giving.”

Peter says, “Our planned gift is undesignated to give the cancer center the flexibility to use it where it is most needed. Giving a planned gift must be meaningful to the person because they’re doing something for other people, maybe even hundreds of people whom they have never met and never will meet.” Dee Dee concludes, “We gave our gift because UNC Lineberger is something we know about, have been a part of, and love.”